8-12 Weeks

Total Sleep Hours: 14-16
Night time Hours: 9-10
Daytime Hours: 4-5 (typically 4-5 naps per day)

• At 8 weeks it’s very important to begin establishing a healthy foundation for sleep. Even though they still aren’t ready to “sleep train” or to be on a predictable schedule, there are still areas that you can control.
• Always put your baby on her back to sleep and make sure there are no fluffy blankets, pillows or stuffed animals in her crib.
• Make sure your baby sleeps in the same place for every sleep period. This is a great time to introduce the crib for naps and discontinue the use of swings, bouncers, etc. to put her to sleep.
• Continue watching for those sleepy signs (rubbing eyes, pulling ears, zoned out stare, fussiness, etc.) but remember that she will need to sleep after about 45 min-1 hour of being awake. With many babies these sleepy signs come too late and we’ve missed the window and overtiredness sets in.
• You’ll notice around this time that he’ll start to resist sleep a little bit more to spend time with you. It now will take work on your part to help him when he’s sleepy. He will no longer just begin falling asleep on his own because he’s more aware of his surroundings.
• Create a soothing routine that is the same every time. I always recommend using a song to serve as a cue for your baby. Eventually she’ll hear this song and know what’s going to happen next…bedtime!
• Be sure to put her down when she’s drowsy, but not fully asleep – eyes heavy, body relaxed.
• Encourage your baby to practice self-soothing skills. Allow him to fuss and squirm a little bit (but don’t let him get really worked up) just to give him a chance to put himself to sleep and to learn how.
• Around this time the bedtime will begin to move earlier.  All other sleep times are still erratic and without a particular pattern. I know this is frustrating, but in time her little internal clock will be developed enough to  fall into a rhythm that’s more in line with yours.